Weymouth's old town hall

Image: © Neil Owen Taken: 18 Nov 2022

The town hall was one of two in the area. Originally the two sides of the River Wey were occupied by two separate towns, Melcombe Regis and Weymouth, which caused many arguments and rivalry - and both had a hall. Queen Elizabeth I decreed that the two should be combined as one under an Act of Parliament in 1591. This is the 'Old Town Hall' and was originally Tudor cottages knocked into one to create a hall. In 1774 it was substantially rebuilt using Portland Stone and carried on as a functioning civic building, along with its counterpart in Melcombe. However, council business tended to be done in Melcombe and so the hall drifted into obscurity. More repairs were needed in 1896. By the twentieth century it was downgraded and used by Girl Guides. Into the twenty-first the Grade II listed hall was left unoccupied and fell into disrepair. With a charity-based group given the chance to keep it in order and run it as a community centre and arts venue. See Image] for a look at the tower and clock.

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